The Khakdon River, a crucial waterway connecting Barguna to Dhaka, remains in poor condition despite annual dredging efforts.

The waterway is almost completely closed at several points due to the buildup of sandbars, making navigation difficult for vessels, especially during the dry winter months.

While the river maintains sufficient water flow for launches during the monsoon season, the water level drops significantly during winter, especially during low tide.

This results in the river becoming unnavigable, with launches unable to reach the Barguna river port.

Passengers are left stranded as vessels anchor two to three kilometers away from the port, causing immense sufferings.

Each year, dredging is carried out at different points in an attempt to keep the waterway operational, but the situation persists.

Local launch staff and residents said that despite the dredging, there is no long-term solution to the problem. "Dredging is done for show, but it doesn’t restore the river’s navigability," said Md. Harun Or Rashid, master of the Pubali-1 launch. He explained that nearby canals, which were dammed, prevent water from flowing into the river, causing the water level to drop further, especially during low tide.

For the river to be navigable, at least 1.5 meters of water is needed. However, during the winter season, the depth sometimes drops to just 1 meter, making it impossible for launches to reach the port. As a result, passengers are forced to travel by road, and traders face difficulties in transporting goods, he added.

Read: National Committee of civic bodies urges river dredging to combat recurring floods

Launch operators obviously struggle with the low navigability of the river. 

Md. Abul Hossain, another master of the Pubali-1 launch, pointed out that the river’s shallow depth forces the launch to travel at a much slower speed, delaying arrival at the Barguna port. "This not only increases the suffering of passengers but also affects our operations," he added.

Md. Ripon, a staff member on the launch, said that when the water level is low, passengers have to disembark at Dhalua, about two kilometers away from the port. Despite the dredging machines operating in the river, no significant improvement has been seen, leading to frustration among the launch staff and passengers alike.

Locals have also expressed their concerns.

Muraduzzaman Tipon, a resident of Barguna, criticised the minimal dredging in the river. "The occasional dredging is not enough to solve the problem. It’s mostly for show," he said, adding that passengers often have to get off the launch up to three kilometers from the port.

Arifur Rahman, a member of the Bangladesh River Protection Committee, echoed these concerns, calling the dredging efforts unplanned and ineffective.

Read more: 13 citizens demand expert committee to investigate ‘graft in river dredging’

"We need a long-term, well-planned dredging strategy to restore the river’s navigability. If this continues, we will launch a larger movement to demand action from the authorities," he added.

When asked about the measures being taken to address the navigability issue, Syed Md. Mahbubur Rahman, Assistant Port and Transport Officer at the Barguna River Port, acknowledged the difficulties during low tide but assured that authorities were aware of the problem.

"The senior authorities of BIWTA have already inspected the river’s depth, and we have informed the dredging department about the situation," he said.

Barguna Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Shafiul Alam said that the Khakdon River is vital for transport between Barguna and Dhaka.

"Although the waterway is almost closed due to sandbars, we can still reach the launch ghat during high tide. However, during low tide, it becomes difficult. We will work with BIWTA and relevant authorities to keep this important waterway operational," he added.